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20160620 MinutesMayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2016 City Commission Chambers, City Hall 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Commissioner Ricky Arriola, Chair Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Vice Chair Member Jorge Exposito Member Saul Gross Member Paul Freeman Member Debra Leibowitz Member Leslie Tobin Jeff Oris, Administration Liaison Chair Arriola opened the meeting at 6:39 p.m. Also in attendance: Maria Ilcheva, Ph.D. , FIU Metropolitan Center Dario Moreno, FIU Metropolitan Center from FIU Metropolitan Center Maria Hernandez, Convention Center District Project Director 1. ROLL CALL 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: RESIDENT SURVEY – Maria Ilcheva, Ph.D. FIU Metropolitan Center Maria Ilcheva stated that at the last meeting it was discussed that a simple poll/survey from an educational standpoint would be given that contained basic facts within either the introduction or the questions themselves. Maria Ilcheva advised against providing too much information in the introduction. Member Saul Gross suggested that the survey refrain from any suggestive or leading language, Commissioner Ricky Arriola was in accordance. Gross also recommended that the purpose of the survey be added as part of the introduction. Member Debra Leibowitz suggested including that tourism officials recommended a 1000 room Convention Center Hotel to draw conventions. Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Member Saul Gross suggested including “in order for the center to be financially successful it needs a headquarter hotel adjacent to the center” and to strike “a larger number” since we are theoretically doing something smaller than the industry has suggested. Gross also suggested adding at the end after “at an approximate cost of $400 million” a statement that no public dollars would be used. Commissioner Ricky Arriola advised that any reference that taxpayer dollars would be used to fund the hotel be removed from the introduction because it is misleading. Instead it should be clearly stated that no public dollars will be spent on the building of the Convention Center Hotel. Member Paul Freeman suggested that the $400 million cost be removed Dario Moreno and other members of the board were in agreement. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that the historical data from March regarding the outcome of the Convention Center Hotel be removed from the survey. Member Jorge Exposito indicated that some background should stay in the introduction to show that the city is reapproaching this in a transparent manner so that voters feels that they are part of the process. Commissioner Ricky Arriola was in agreement, Dario Moreno stated that a new introduction will be drafted. Based on the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel Draft Survey 1. Member Debra Leibowitz suggested that the words “in support of” in question #1 be removed. Member Jorge Exposito seconded Member Leslie Tobin’s recommendation of the change. Member Saul Gross suggested the word regarding replace the phrase “in support of”. Member Debra Leibowitz recommended that overall, the wording of all the survey questions be shortened in order to reduce confusion in regards to what is being asked as well as the total survey time. 2. Maria Ilcheva stated that the reason behind question #2 was to understand what were the concerns for the residents as well as what aspects of the hotel did they like that made them vote in favor of it. Chair Ricky Arriola expressed that this questions confirms how they voted and if they would vote the same way again. Dario Moreno stated that the order of answer choices will not be uniform for every survey taker in order to ensure residents are not selecting the same answer choices. 3. Member Paul Freeman suggested that a supplemental traffic answer choice be added to question #3 which would state “traffic congestion in the City generally”. Commissioner Ricky Arriola recommended the original traffic answer choice “The traffic congestion it will create” to reword to say “The traffic congestion it may create “. Final decision was to reword the traffic answer choice to state potential traffic. Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Member Jorge Exposito proposed adding a question in regards to a change in the footprint/ land area of the Convention Center Hotel on the survey to address height and other issues. Member Saul Gross and Commissioner Ricky Arriola seconded Member Jorge Exposito’s proposal. Dario Moreno stated that the methodology behind the answer choice of “less likely to support” in questions 4-10 was to capture the hard “no” voting residents. 4. It was declared that question #4 will remain as originally stated since the size of the hotel was originally introduced in the introduction of the survey. 5. A majority of the board members voted in favor of question #5 remaining on the survey, Member Saul Gross recommended that the word “limit” be removed from the survey and location markers such as Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue be reference so that residents are aware of which Clock Tower is being referenced. 6. Dario Moreno from FIU suggested that the phrase in question #6 “where a park is planned” be removed from the question because it bias’ the question, Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez agreed. 7. Member Saul Gross suggested question #7 reference a world-class architect would design the hotel. Member Jorge Exposito stated that based on a memo from the staff, if the hotel were privately financed changes to the design would not be permitted after it has been approved. Dario Moreno recommended a question in regards if the resident would if favor of or against a hotel design executed by a world-class architect be added to the survey, this notion was seconded by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. Question #7 will remain as originally stated. 8. Chair Ricky Arriola suggested for question #8 the residents be aware if they voted in support of this, this would mean that the Jackie Gleason Theater would be demolished. Maria Ilcheva recommended better terminology for the word demolished. Chair Ricky Arriola suggested the term renovate. 9. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Member Saul Gross both expressed that question #9 be removed from the survey because it was suggestive and read like a push poll. 10. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that question #10, #11 and #12 be taken out because it read like a push poll questions as well. She also suggested the word mitigate be used to discuss the traffic issues.Per Dario Moreno’s, suggestion the committee unanimously agreed to include questions #9 and #10 as part of question # 13. Chair Arriola and Member Saul Gross suggested using language like “ in order to accommodate the concerns of residents”. Once the survey is ready, Chair Ricky Arriola is giving the committee 24 to 48 hours to respond. 3. PRESENTATION: P-LOT 32 - Maria Hernandez, Project Director, Convention Center District Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Derived from the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel Site options meeting on June 11, 2014  Decision required:  HQ hotel site locations can impact Convention Center and parking planning  Need Commission preference on hotel site  Template Program:  800 rooms  70,00 sq. ft ballroom/meeting  800 parking spaces  Per current code  0.5 spaces per room more typical and could reduce height  Option 1: P-Lot  Large site  225 feet height  Severely limits park area  Not compatible with Meridian neighbors  Option 2: City Hall  Smaller site  275 feet height  City Hall would need to be replaced first  Delays/Complications hotel approvals  Option 3: 17th Street Garage  Very tall  325 feet height  Loss of parking during construction  Public (parking) – Private (hotel) ownership required  Allows Soundscape - P-Lot park Connection  Option 4: Behind the Fillmore  Accommodates hotels, meeting space and hotel parking  225 feet height  Great connection to the Convention Center  Requires removal of theater practice space  Theater loading dock can remain  Does not allow for Soundscape P-Lot park Connection  Timing  Maintain Focus on Convention Center  Solidify Convention Center funding  Solicit Hotel Developer o Spring 2015 o Must negotiate fill lase prior to referendum Maria Hernandez stated Based on all the information presented to the Commission, they selected Option 4: Behind the Fillmore on June 2014. Another advantage of the location behind the Fillmore was that, the Fillmore would be able to stay in operation and it permits use of the P-lot for public park purposes. To date, 100 million dollars has been spent on this project. Mayor’s Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Steering Committee on the Convention Center Hotel 2016//06/20 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Maria Hernandez stated that an option for the 17th street garage to put mini garages off of Lincoln Road so the building can be lower if the hotel were to be built there. The garage will be demolished at some point because of its issues. Chair Ricky Arriola doesn’t believe the P-Lot is a viable option because the need for buffer zones. Member Saul Gross believes widening 18th street should be an option to reduce traffic on 17th street. Member Jorge Exposito made the following motion: MOTION: TO NOT CONSIDER THE USE OF THE P-LOT FOR A CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL Motion was seconded by: Member Paul Freeman Additional discussion ensued regarding the use of the P-Lot and the purpose of the Committee and direction of its future meetings. The Committee did not return to the motion on the floor and did not call the question to a vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was no additional public input at this time. 5. GENERAL DISCUSSION Member Saul Gross suggested a future meeting to discuss the following topics: height and compatibility as well as traffic and mitigation ideas. Resident Tonya Bhatt suggested having a meeting regarding reformulating the Jackie Gleason and bringing in experts to discuss related options. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez suggested that an email be sent to Miami Beach resident regarding the topics that will be discuss at upcoming meeting to get more of the publics meets. Chair Ricky Arriola stated that the next meeting will be on height and the Jackie Gleason. 6. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 pm. MINUTES APPROVED AT 8/29/16 MEETING